B.C. hires Addazio away from Temple

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2012, file photo, Temple football coach Steve Addazio watches from the sidelines during his team's game against Connecticut in East Hartford, Conn. Boston College has hired Addazio away from Temple to be the Eagles' next coach. Addazio, a Connecticut native, went 13-11 in two seasons with the Owls since taking over for Al Golden in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

BOSTON — When Brad Bates arrived at Boston College as the new athletic director, he had in his mind a list of football coaches he might someday want to hire.

He didn’t have to wait long to use it.

Two months after arriving in Chestnut Hill and nine days after firing Frank Spaziani following a 2-10 season, Bates hired Steve Addazio away from Temple.

“Any athletic director has a list of names that they’re perpetually following,” Bates told reporters after meeting with the football team to tell them of the new hire. “What you’re trying to do is match with the perfect fit. Not every great coach is a great fit for Boston College at this time.”

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A Connecticut native who also worked at Notre Dame and Florida, Addazio went 13-11 in two seasons with the Owls since taking over for Al Golden. He replaces Spaziani, who was fired after four consecutive seasons of worsening records and two straight years without a bowl appearance.

Addazio, who is scheduled to be introduced at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, was given a six-year contract; financial terms were not disclosed.

“I’ve only been here six weeks. I’m looking for a partner who I can be joined at the hip with,” Bates said. “This is a guy who grew up in the Northeast and has dreamed about being at Boston College.”

Spaziani was fired after going 22-29 in four-plus seasons as head coach and 16 overall at BC.

Addazio, 53, led the Owls to a 9-4 record in 2011 and their first bowl win in 32 years — a 37-15 victory over Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl. A school-record three Owls were selected in the 2012 NFL draft: running back Bernard Pierce in the third round, tight end Evan Rodriguez in the fourth, and linebacker Tahir Whitehead in the fifth.

Nine other players from the Class of 2012 signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents, another school record.

But this season the Owls went 4-7 (2-5 Big East) after leaving the Mid-American Conference and returning to the conference that booted them out in 2004.

“Steve Addazio has done a tremendous job with Temple football in his two years at the university, and we wish him nothing but the best,” Owls athletic director Bill Bradshaw said. “Temple football has never been stronger, and I am confident we will be able to attract a high-level pool of candidates for the position and the program will continue its upward momentum.”

Before going to Temple, Addazio was also the associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Florida under Urban Meyer. Addazio was on the Gators’ staff when they won BCS National Championships in 2006 and ‘08.

Addazio also worked at Indiana, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Western Connecticut State. He is a graduate of Central Connecticut State, where he was a four-year starter on the offensive and defensive lines.

“This is a well-connected guy in the football community,” Bates said, adding that he had only spoken generally to Addazio about assistant coaches. “He’s going to have an amazing collection of coaches that he can assemble.”